US peanut butter recall expands to more stores including Whole Foods, Target

Updated at 11:30 a.m. ET

In an ongoing recall of peanut and almond butter products over possible salmonella contamination, New Mexico-based Sunland Inc. announced Monday it expanded its recall yet again to include cashew butters, tahini and blanched and roasted peanut products sold at many U.S. supermarkets.

New products recalled include varieties of cookies sold at Whole Foods that contain peanut butter, peanut butter cracker snacks sold at Stop & Shop supermarkets, and various ice cream and chocolate snack products. Sunland's recall now includes 101 products, and several retailers have issued additional recalls including items made with Sunland ingredients.

Sunland Inc. sells its nuts and nut butters to large groceries and other food distributors around the country. The company recalled products under multiple brand names after salmonella illnesses were linked Trader Joe's Creamy Salted Valencia Peanut Butter, one of the brands manufactured by Sunland.

The recall was then expanded last weekto include other peanut and almond butter products manufactured by Sunland, 76 products at the time.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there are now 30 illnesses in 19 states that can be traced to the Trader Joe's peanut butter. No other foods have been linked to the illnesses, but Sunland recalled other products manufactured on the same equipment as the Trader Joe's product.

Those sickened reported becoming ill between June 11 and Sept. 11, according to the CDC. Almost two-thirds of those who became ill were children under the age of 10. No deaths have been reported.

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 hours to 72 hours after infection, which is known as salmonellosis. It is most dangerous to children, the elderly and others with weak immune systems.

The bacteria is microscopic and passes from feces of people or animals to other people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Salmonellosis causes an estimated 1.4 million cases of foodborne illness and more than 400 deaths annually in the United States.

In addition to Trader Joe's, the recall includes nut products sold at Whole Foods Market, Target, Fresh & Easy, Giant Food, Harry and David, Stop & Shop Supermarket Company and several other stores. Some of the stores used Sunland ingredients in items they prepared and packaged themselves. Brand names recalled include Archer Farms, Earth Balance, Fresh & Easy, Late July, Heinen's, Joseph's, Natural Value, Naturally More, Open Nature, Peanut Power Butter, Serious Food, Snaclite Power, Sprouts Farmers Market, Sprout's, Sunland and Dogsbutter, among others.

Several manufacturers announced recalls in light of the expansion, according to the FDA. Stop & Shop alerted customers to avoid Late July Organic Snacks organic mini peanut butter sandwich crackers with sell-by-dates between May 19, 2013 through July 11, 2013.

Newman's Own Organics recalled 8-ounce and 13-pounce packs of Peanut Butter Newman-O's cookies with expiration dates of May 3 and May 27, 2013.

Whole Foods voluntarily pulled Treasure Trove Mix and Peanut Butter Power Chews bulk items in seven Florida stores and one southern California store.

Fairytale Brownies pulled peanut butter brownies and cookies manufactured by Sunland. Jer's Chocolates recalled some of its Gourmet Peanut Butter Bars and Gourmet Jer's Squares produced through Sept. 24, 2012.    

A full list of products can be found on the Food and Drug Administration web site.